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Grosgrain Archives

January 28, 2011

One of the downsides to buying shoes at the thrift store is that they often don't have the prettiest insoles. And honestly, I don't really care about what my shoes look like on the inside unless I'm photographing them. But I'll admit that I've been drawn to shoes in the store that have a pretty pattern on the inside.

If you love to have your shoes look as good on the rack as they do on your feet you can try this simple tutorial for making custom insoles.

And BTW, I bought these Apt. 9 shoes for only $1.50! I love their pinkish but neutral hue.

You can use pinking shears to do this but they must be the quality fabric shears you buy at JoAnn's and not the kind for scrapbooking. Those barely cut paper. And if you're really ambitious you can buy this SCALLOPED rotary blade or these scalloped fabric shears for an even more polished look.

1. Iron your fabric flat.

2. If you have insole I recommend using them as a template and skipping steps 2 through 3. But if you don't have insoles follow these steps. Take a shoe with as much exposed insole as you can find.

3. Place a piece of fabric over top and trace the insole.

Cut the pattern about 1/4" in from your tracing.

4. Take a piece of sticky back foam. If you don't have sticky back foam you can use spray glue to make the one side sticky.

Now alternately you can cut out the foam step and just glue the fabric into your shoe without foam. If your shoes are too small you might have to leave out the foam. It's up to you.

5. Spray your in sole fabric with no fray spray (BEFORE CUTTING). Then trace your insole pattern on the fabric and lay your fabric on top of the sticky side of the foam.

(And please ignore the different fabric I'm using. I did these steps on separate occasions.)

6. Then cut out with fabric pinking shears.

7. Spray back of foam with spray glue or whatever glue works best for you and place in shoe. Let dry.

I love these! I am getting married in April and I have always loved when wedding photographers get shots of the dress, the shoes, etc before the bride puts them on. I always thought it was a little weird to show the shoe label though (sorry shoe brands)... Now I can make pretty insoles for my bridal shoes!

This is GENIUS!!! I am so in love with this idea that I'm having to fight the leave the house right this minute and go find a pair of thrifted pumps - not because I need them but because I want to make their insides pretty.

I linked to your tutorial over at Craft Gossip Sewing:http://grosgrainfabulous.blogspot.com/2011/01/shoe-sugar-month-day-16-insole-heaven.html

This is awesome! There have been so many times when I've been tempted to by shoes or a coat just for the linings, and had to remind myself no one was going to see them. Now I can have pretty linings on all my shoes!

I love this blog, and really enjoyed the dress a week dresses.Sooooo..I am awarding you the stylish blogger award!To pick it up there are a couple of things you need to do -check out my blog post here: http://littlebirdinabeehive.blogspot.com/2011/01/stylish-blogger-award-winners.html

Adorable! I love the idea of making your own insoles, it's so smart especially if you buy shoes from the thrift store. And I have been looking for a pair of pumps just like that! What size are they? :) LOL